001Good evening everyone. Oh, okay. Hold on. Okay. Good evening. You can unmute yourself. >> Good evening. I think the I think the mute the unmute portion needs to be done at uh during public comment, right? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. >> And there's a mistake on the walk on agenda, Dr. Fisher >> the um I missed to put the I didn't put the name of the vendor >> but you also but it also says 60,000 when the approval from the county suit was 50. >> Yes, >> I put 60 because I don't have the full we don't have the exact amount and I didn't want the I did that intentionally. I don't want the 50 to not cuz that because usually you have to go on as not to exceed. Can we hold an executive
002session further when we when we convene? >> Um, yes. This is contract. So, yeah, we could do that then. >> Okay. >> Uh, we can't begin yet, guys, because we still don't have a quorum. Wait. One, two, three. Myself. Four. We have four, I believe. One, two, three. And myself is four. We're still waiting for a few board members to join. >> Okay. >> Uh how many people are waiting in the um >> do we have 13 people? No. Uh no board members that are there. >> Okay. Well, we'll probably have to send them a message saying, you know, we can't sign we can't do it until they're all here. at the Fisher. You might have to give me additional opportunity to share my screen for this flag. I got it. >> Okay. >> Think
003I have it. Just open it for this. >> Can you see my share? >> Well, it was there. Now it's not. >> Can you see my share? Are we ready, Dr. Fisher? >> Yes. >> Okay. Good evening, everyone. I'm going to call this February meeting of the Roosevelt Board of Education to order. It is 6:03 p.m. In accordance with the provisions of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was originally provided through the annual public notice on >> recording in progress >> 2026 by emailing to the newspapers designated by the board, the local source, and the star ledger by posting on the district website, the main bulletin board in the administration office and in each Roseel Burough school and by emailing to the clerk of
004Rosel Burrow and post it on the Burrow of Rosel website. Can you all please take a moment to recite the pledge of allegiance with me? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America of America >> and to the republic >> for which it stands, >> one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Dr. Simmons, please provide a roll call. >> Thank you, Dr. Washington. Dr. Washington, I mean, sorry, Dr. Atkins, >> present. >> Miss Bond, Mi, Mrs. Chavez, >> present, >> Mrs. Cortez, >> present. Miss Santos, >> Miss Tonnage, >> Dr. Washington, >> present. >> Mrs. Washington, >> present. >> Miss Woody, >> present. >> Do we have our student representatives? Mr. Mr. Daniel Afrey >> Ayuri hear me? No. >> I don't see
005them. >> And Mr. Emmy >> Andrew Emmy. I don't see him yet. >> Okay. We have a quorum. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, everyone who is in attendance, I just want you to understand the order of our meeting. We are going to convene into executive session, which is what we always do from 6:00 p.m. to approximately 700 p.m. If we are going to be a little later, we will then have someone come out and let you know that we are still running later if our discussions run long. We should be in executive session for about an hour until 700 p.m. or whatever is necessary. So now I'm going to entertain a motion to enter into executive session to discuss issues that warrant confidentiality as consistent with NJSA 10 col4-12 for matters of attorney client privilege
006contracts legal litigation negotiations personnel and student matters. The minutes will be made available to the public upon request when the confidentiality of the subject is no longer warranted. May I have a motion and a second? >> I'd make a motion to go into executive session. >> All in favor? I >> again to the public that is on this meeting. We will be coming out and we will continue with the rest of the meeting in public. Thank you. Dr. Fischer, can you put the board into executive session? Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Hey, Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey,
007hey. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Hey. recording in progress. Good evening everyone. We are returning from the executive session portion of the meeting. May I have a motion to return to the regular portion of this meeting? I make a motion to return to it to this portion of the meeting. >> All in favor? >>
008I need to also make a motion to >> I'm seeing in the chat before I continue, I'm seeing in the chat that there's no sound. Can someone please confirm that this >> I can hear you. We we weren't on and um I think they thought we were talking when we started coming back on, but you're fine now. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Um I'm going to ask for a motion to adjust the presentation portion of the meeting because during in person when we usually have the junior ROC um presentation of colors, that will not be happening tonight. And Dr. Mr. Fisher, do you think we should move the instructional technology up above right after the um CTE and we have to remove the student reps reports? >> Sure, that'll be fine. >> Okay. So,
009may I have a motion to adjust the order of the presentations as discussed? >> Motion to adjust. second. >> Whee. >> Any any discussion on this? All in favor? >> I thank you. >> So, I'm going to begin the evening everyone with my board president's report. Um, good evening and welcome. I see a lot of people in the audience tonight. Thank you for joining us. Um, this is our February 2026 regular board of ed meeting. I'll begin tonight by saying on behalf of the Rosel Board of Education, I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulation to all of this year's teachers of the year honores. This recognition is welld deserved and reflects your unwavering dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the scholars entrusted to your care. Your work shapes lives, inspires growth, and strengthens the future
010of our community. Please congratulate them, parents and staff, when you see them in the district. I'd also like to provide a few agenda highlights and the impact on our schools and curriculum. This evening's agenda includes several important items that directly support student achievement, school operations, and district improvements. First, there is a resolution uh prioritizing social emotional learning or districtwide which emphasizes skill building, trauma-informed practices and integration across academic subjects. This init initiative is aimed to strengthen student well-being, improve academic outcomes, and promote supportive learning environments. Also on tonight's agenda uh is the following. Professional development. Please mute yourselves for right now. Curriculum initiatives. On tonight's agenda, the following professional development and curriculum initiatives are slated for approval, including a pilot implementation of go math and reveal math programs. Foundation's literacy training for staff and an
011AI showcase and instructional technology integration initiative. Myself and a few board members attended the presentations for go math and the reveal math programs and I can honestly say that it's a solid platform to support our students to help them improve their math skills and literacy. The impact will be the strengthening of our math and lit literacy instruction, enhancing technology integration in 21st century learning, and building teacher capacity to deliver the rigorous instruction that parents have been calling for in our preschool and early childhood education programs. We are renewing the creative curriculum cloud and ready rosie resources that support our early learners and improves our family engagement. On our facility side, we are approving our architectural planning and facility improvements to include enhanced security vegetables in response to incidents that affected the district. The approval of
012the designs for our district submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education for new maker spaces and audio auditorium updates. We're receiving grant funding um and we'll be accepting the focus grant which supports universal screening and student intervention systems which enhances early identification of academic and behavioral needs improves targeted interventions and supports datadriven driven decision-m and lastly I want to touch on our audit that we were presented with on Thursday. The audit shows encouraging news regarding the financial health of the Rosa public schools. As reported by auditors, the district is in a strong fiscal position with an estimated $13 million healthy surplus available for 2026 2027. This marks a historic milestone for our district and reflects responsible stewardship and sound physical management. The audit synopsis showed a strengthened fund balance and reserves, positioning the district
013to address capital needs and operational priorities responsively. This healthy surplus provides Rosel with the abilility to self-und critical school projects and improvements were necessary without placing additional strain or stress on the general operating budgets or our taxpayers. It gives us flexibility to address facility upgrades, instructional enhancements, and safety improvements while maintaining fiscal stability. This achievement is the result of the strong fiscal oversight of this board of commissioners. And I want to give you all a round of applause because we have been very forward focused and doing with our due diligence, especially with our finance committee. So, I'm going to give you all a round of applause. And in closing, um tonight's agenda reflects a comprehensive approach to advancing academic achievement, strengthening student supports, improving facilities, and ensuring fiscal responsibilities. Although there is still much work
014ahead, this project, this progress affirms that we are moving forward forward deliberatively, deliberately, responsibly, and in alignment with that mission. Thank you. The next you'll hear from our board commissioners for their board committee updates. The first committee is our curriculum committee. Miss Chavez, please unmute yourself. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam President, and good evening everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight. Our curriculum and technology committee met on February 10th at 6 PM and the following items were um discussed uh mainly uh uh student learning experience pilot the the math program pilots we which you have discussed too there are two math programs that we're going to be piloting in after tonight's agenda which is go math and reveal math uh we also discussed was the steam machine logistics. Um and mainly we had um questions
015answered about the pilot strategy and how we're going to move forward um after the pilots is done. Another topic of discussion was the history and financial literacy um integration into this classroom and the professional development of our um teachers and staff. Uh one item that we discussed was 5.1 and the all the questions were clarified by um the assistant superintendent. That concludes the report for our technology comm curriculum and technology report. >> Miss Chavez, I'm gonna ask because I know you're rendering that for another absent commissioner. Can you just uh render your policy committee? >> Sure. Yes. Thank you. Our policy committee met Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Got it. Okay. Our policy committee met on February 16 via Zoom and as you can see in our policy we have our second reading
016for policy uh P52000.01 which is our after school program attendance. uh it has been um reviewed and so moving forward uh after we pass this uh policy tonight. It is the expectation that for all after school programs uh including title one, title 3 and 21st um century uh students need to be um present and if there is more than three the absences they could be removed and they don't have if the students don't have a um um I'm sorry I'm going through my notes. we need to an unexc if they have three unexcused absences they will be um removed from the program and this is something that was already discussed when we had our initial um meeting with the parents at the beginning of the year. We also discussed um policy enforcement and school procedures
017of cell phone use and emergency communications. In conclusion, the committee emphasizes the need for consistent policy enforcement uh strengthening the training and clear communication across all schools to support the safe and effective learning environments for all our students and staff. That concludes my report for tonight. Thank you, Madam President. >> Thank you, Miss Chavez. The next committee to present will be the facilities committee, Miss Wood. >> Good evening, everyone. Um, with all the snow we're having, I know people are very concerned. Our staff is working very hard uh with the snow removal and we are bringing out we're bringing in uh outside vendors to also assist with that. Um, we met on February 10th at 6:00. Uh, just some highlights. Um, at Abraham Clark, we're working on a dance studio. Um at this point we're
018just looking for um more quotes on mirrors. Once those quotes are in and the mirrors are in, we will be uh happy to be opening there. Um a review is being done regarding the upgrading of water fountains districtwide. That's has been a concern. Uh let's see. H2M continues to assess SDA grants. Um, we're trying to use grant money as as much as possible so that we're not adding expenses to the taxpayers when we're making renovations. Uh, in technology, uh, regarding our printing services, we're working with Atlantic tomorrow um, and they have agreed to, uh, send us updated Chrysera machines and also to remove the present equipment at no cost to the burrow. Um, another thing that was discussed, we were we were talking about uh what was happening with the school breakins. Um, and we
019are going to go forward in looking at protocols to make sure that the proper people are being informed immediately so we can address things right away. And that that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Miss Woody. Next, we'll have the finance committee. >> Thank you, Madam President. This is Commissioner Porto speaking, and we had our meeting on February 9th at 700 p.m. During the course of our meeting, we had discussions about school facility referendum updates. There's a $5 million addition to the referendum for facility improvements. Dr. official discussed with with the board and the committee maker space uh security vestibules transition centers that are planned for our schools. Transportation contract was also discussed and approved by the Union County ESC. We also discussed audit procedures strengthening for transportation and budgeting. Under financial and operations highlight,
020we discussed a 3.7 million transportation purchase order. We also discussed a 1.8 8 million check reissued after a stop payment had been previously issued earlier in the in the plywood budget. New uh 5-year copier lees were also discussed where we decided um as a committee that we would have a cost savings of $12,868 annually to uh keep our financial spend at a healthy spend as it pertains to lease leasing equipment. We discussed f scholarships and donations that were also approved for this agenda. We also discussed weapon detection systems funded through reserves that we have in our budget. On the security and fund balance side, we advanced metal detectors with visual detection capabilities to increase the security that we have in our school systems to enhance um pre-existing services and systems that we currently have in
021place. We also discussed a healthy fund balance of $13.6 million and we also have a 6.6 million capital reserve. We also have a 1.1 in maintenance reserve to enhance our school um properties and we also at this point have 100k emergency fund readily available for us as well. We also discussed 1.4 million allocated to support the 2006 and 2007 budget. We have building use applications and insurance certificates confirmed on on file for facilities that are being requested for use. On the audit side and findings and corrective actions, we have 16 audit findings, internal controls, and SOP issues. Mandatory purchase orders required before field trips. IRS penalties approximately 800K. Waiver requests submitted. Monthly monitoring and auditor follow-ups are scheduled as it pertains to those topics. Business office improvements. We updated standard operating procedures. Um staff training
022implemented as well related to those standard operating procedures. monthly internal audits to begin um per the request of the committee to ensure that we stay on our SOPs as it pertains to the audit findings and we are going to request the monthly budget um board updates requested from this committee budget and staffing strategy. We also discussed not having any anticipated layoffs. Most grant staffing structures structured as stipens. Long-term staffing strategies and development are in place and special service vacancies were also discussed and under review. Legal RFPs to be issued for 2026 through 2007 fiscal year. These are the topics that we've discussed and shared with um at this meeting. Thank you madam president. >> Thank you. Uh next we'll have personnel. Miss Turnage. Good evening everyone. Um this is Commissioner Turnage. Uh the personnel committee
023met on February 10th. Um and um during the personnel committee we discussed the personnel portion of the agenda. Um, and just uh receive some clarifying details uh around >> Don't forget to take out your trash cans >> around employee um around questions from the uh from the personnel committee uh concerning uh the staff here in the district. We did discuss uh the negotiations briefly. It was noted that the retro was paid out on 123 to all of the current staff and we also discussed um recruitment um reviewing the vacancy list and looking at the areas in which uh we have vacancies which uh special uh services u most of is where most of our vacancies are and we discussed some strategies for um recruiting um for these upcoming for this upcoming school year. And that
024concludes our personnel discussion. Thank you, Miss Turnage. And finally, I'll read the ad hoc committee report. We did not have a special services committee meeting. The discussion focused on the ad hoc committee met on FE Monday, February 16th, virtually via Zoom. The discussion focused on several key next steps leading up to the referendum for the new school project. The plans for the school have been the new school have been delivered by the architects to the borrow of Rosel planning board. The district is still awaiting followup. The architects have developed the additional plans for improvement at all existing schools to be added to the referendum. Plans were signed for submission to the New Jersey Department of Education. There is a meeting to discuss the referendum strategy and communication with the PR firm. Dr. Dr. Fischer will
025provide an update from the meeting with the PR firm to the board by February 19. Dr. Fischer to coordinate with the PR firm to schedule meeting a meeting with the ad hoc committee members and the community stakeholders. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th. The team will meet bi-weekly until the referendum is scheduled. Thus, since my report, next up will be um the superintendent district updates by Dr. Fischer. >> Good evening everyone. Yeah, good evening everyone. I just want to take an opportunity to welcome everyone to the February 23rd uh board meeting. Um all my guests online, all my board commissioners and the community at all at all overall. Uh tonight's report just kind of gives a a quick snapshot of the district's operations, some instructional areas that we've been focusing on, uh
026some student supports, and and of course, we spoke about fiscal stewardship. In addition, you heard a little bit from our committees which brought up uh information regarding the future uh the future school here in the district. I do want uh as of Friday, we hit the 100th day of school. So certainly we are excited to know that we hit the 100th day but we of course we had a school closing today and another anticipated closing tomorrow. So we won't be uh exceeding exceeding toward our um our 184 days due to due to weather this week. I do want to uh take this opportunity tonight because we will be recognizing our teachers of the year and our educational service professionals of the year across all of our schools. I'm very excited to acknowledge them. certainly wanted
027to acknowledge them in person, but unfortunately due to the weather, we had to sort of pivot, but certainly it does not go unrecognized uh your contributions that you continue to uh share with the Rosel community. I do want to uh apprise the the the community as well as our visitors that the winter edition of the the Rambler should be in mailboxes across the community uh highlighting some of the the great things happen across all our schools. uh we've had an opportunity to share some of the activities but also the the academic initiatives and just some of the upcoming community events that we have scheduled. We've also had the opportunity to give just a brief synopsis of the school referendum that we're looking forward to. Uh very excited about that process coming fall 2026. and we're
028looking forward to having a number of community forums where we have an opportunity to share with the community what those future plans look like across all of our schools. I do want to uh share I know we had uh you know across the district we've had a number of public uh uh student student climate issues that we were that we communicated about. Uh no grace will day we we shared it out with our school community regarding some uh social media threats that were engaged by a number of our students. Uh thankfully our school personnel responded accordingly to address those social media threats and put the appropriate measures in place to ensure the safety of all students. Uh in addition we had some communication uh regarding an incident that transpired at our high school. Uh certainly
029we are continuing reviewing our code of conduct across our our high school. uh looking to ensure that our restorative practices, due processes, and communications are aligned to ensure that uh we are appropriately handling situations at the high school. Between the two, the junior high school and the high school, we we were very fortunate to have student um town halls just reemphasizing to students their responsibilities in terms of uh their conduct in school and outside of school. So we again applaud the school administration at both schools for their efforts. Uh this month we as we wind down and certainly we have additional activities that are scheduled for Black History Month. Very excited that we had a number of activities that transpired across all schools. Uh personally I had an opportunity to visit a number of our
030inclusion classes this week to read a book entitled Why Not Me by the author Blake Leapy Leaper. uh giving really sparking a conversation with our scholars uh to ensure that they have confidence, inclusion and understanding that they have limitless possibilities uh in their classrooms uh particularly my inclusion spaces that transpired. This Saturday I was excited to continue with annual tradition with movie and muffins with the superintendent. uh had an opportunity to over 100 students participate from grades prek to four who who had a virtual screening of the movie Our Friend Martin took us a powerful story honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King and certainly the students that participated uh very active and engaged throughout that entire session across the the schools of the KSA was in full steam ahead. They had a number
031of activities that were f focused on the 100th day of school. They focused on their their super core value day. Very excited to see the students dress up in their superhero outfits at Washington Elementary School. They continue to work on uh some of the African tradition activities that they were displaying across the student school and having an opportunity to host an assembly for the students on Friday. Uh Dr. Charles C. Pope uh they were actually celebrating their third graders had a great activity celebrating National Dinosaurs Day. So we were very excited to see that the students at Dr. Charles C. Pope had an opportunity to uh participate in that activity as well as their 100th a day celebration. Harrison Elementary as well not only celebrated the 100th day but they also celebrated the 90th day
032of school. They had a very they had a 90s theme uh activity that the kids had an opportunity to participate in, but they also had a 100th day celebration and I'm very honored and privileged to know that 139 of our scholars uh from Harrison School celebrated their second marking period honor roll honorroll event. Uh again at LVmore we had an opportunity to utilize our media specialists who had engaged our students with a host of black inventors lessons and activities. A great opportunity to showcase uh the many black inventors such uh utilizing a black inventor's bingo activity over at Grace Will. Today, Miss McGregor's art class had an opportunity to uh create some vibrant artwork that we see displayed across the school showcasing Black History Month. And they also are continuing with the the NAPE assessment
033uh that's taking place for our students uh in the history and civics assessment that they're taking at the high school. Uh we've had our students who had an opportunity to participate in a public speaking speaking debate. Uh this was a great opportunity to see our students uh across our team pep classes as well as seniors participate in a a special onampus admission event from Berkeley College where they were actually doing coordinating on the spot admissions and as you heard from the uh curriculum report out there that there was a report about out report out on the uh math programs that we are reviewing. We had a host of teachers across the entire district review a number of programs. I believe it was upwards of 10 10 math programs they reviewed. Uh they certainly selected the
034best one that met the needs of our bilingual, multilingual and our special education students along with our gened students. So the final recommendations uh will be put forth to the board at the conclusion of this academic year. Our title one department again there are a host of things happening in title one. uh more particular they the students had an opportunity to participate in an interactive uh a light up tool activity and this happened at a number of schools across the district and our elementary school particularly at Washington they engaged in an activity called the wild robot. Just to uh let everyone know in the ESL world language department we are uh in the access assessment period. So we have students uh who are taking the access assessment that is actively transpiring right now and excited
035now steam department this weekend we had a group of students not only have an opportunity to participate in a a day of of steam over in Rawway the township of Rawway and we were very fortunate also to have a group of students who were accompanied by their math teacher Mr. Naim to attend a steam event down at Princeton University. Looking ahead, uh we we're getting uh geared up for the high school which is engaging in our middle states accreditation process which was supposed to begin today. Uh unfortunately due to the weather, we have to kind of modify that schedule, but we're going to uh move uh accordingly to reschedule that process. Uh we are actively engaging in the um the 26 27 budget. So, we're looking forward in the month of March presenting that our
036preliminary budget to the public and having an opportunity to uh forward that along to the state. And as you heard, we're looking forward to the opening of the uh dance studio at the high school. So, there are a lot of great things happening across the district. Uh I believe this sort of concludes some of the wonderful things happening across the district. Uh, Madame President, I believe that is the update on the superintendent's report. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Fischer. Um, can you please provide us with the HIG reporting through February 2026 for this report period? >> Sure. the harassment, intimidation, and bullying investigation report for period 2 of the 2526 school year. KSA reported no incidents of harassment and intimidation and bullying at the KSA for the month of February. Uh Harrison Elementary School reported
037zero incidents for the month of February. Dr. Charles C. Pope reported zero incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Washington Elementary School, zero reports were presented for Washington Elementary School. Liter Moore Middle School, there were zero reports that were presented for harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Grace Wil Junior High School had one incident that was reported and investigated and concluded not to be a HI. Uh for the the the cumulative report to date, we had a total of uh 20 for the 25 26 we had 24 incidents that were reported and investigated. Three of those incidents were actually con uh confirmed as a hit this year and 21 of those incidents for the the year have been deemed as not being a hit. This concludes the HID reporting for the month of February 2026. >> Thank you,
038Dr. Fisher. Um, next up are our instructional and technology updates by our instructional and technology and CTE department. Miss Bene, are you with us? Dr. Fisher, are they with us? I'm not seeing Missville scene. I know she was actually sending out our communications on the closing of schools. So, I'm not sure. Maybe hopefully I can loop her back in uh somewhere through our agenda. So, let me just check on her. Uh but she did send out a communications for tomorrow's school closing. >> Okay. And Dr. Fisher, I just noticed in your updates there was no mention of the high school. >> Okay. >> So, at the high school, yeah, I kind of actually gave a brief version of the high school. We most recently had a situation at the high school where we involved in
039for the public to know we had a student interaction um a conflict at the high school and certainly it was an incident that brought a lot of concern to a lot of people based on what had transpired um and as what not only myself but also to the uh the school personnel and and students. uh did have an opportunity to um talk with the princip meet with the principal and having an understanding of what transpired particularly on that that day. Also had an opportunity to talk with the parents regarding what had transpired that day as well. Uh and again uh at this particular point we have been following the code of conduct um you know and giving all the students their due process in that particular situation. Uh we initially held a student um student
040um a student student town hall. Okay, I've lost the words there. A student town hall where we have an opportunity to just reiterate to students about what the expectations are at the high school. Uh you know, having a clear understanding as to what what's acceptable and what's not acceptable and also just reiterating what the code of conduct is. Um, and what we uh initially we initially had scheduled a a town hall meeting where we were going to have some of our high school families come out just to hear just to get a an update about what transpired on that particular day. Uh not to, you know, to talk about uh any individual students, but just to give reassurance of what types of protocols the high school has in place. Uh that that particular parent uh
041town hall was cancelled. Uh again, you know, that was based on the concerns that we were receiving. There were just some uh uh some concerns regarding uh uh using it as a platform that wasn't necessarily what it was intended to do. Uh we are looking to have some sort of parent uh a town hall. I don't necessarily want to use a town hall, but a conversation with parents and what all everybody's expectation is to ensure that we have appropriate code of conduct throughout the building. So again, that's as much as I have the update on that particular situation. Um, again, you know, one of the things I will say, uh, the the school administration, uh, has been working diligently to kind of ensure that, uh, we maintain safety and security at not only just the
042high school, but every school across the district, uh, for that that that that s. So, I just wanted to kind of just, if I can circle back on that and just kind of pin that in the conversation, Dr. Washington. >> Thank you, Dr. Fischer. Um, moving on. I want to You're going to reach out to Miss Viline, right? And we may have to bring her back at the end. >> Yeah, you have to unmute, Dr. Bish. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. So now, may I have a motion and a second to accept and approve governance items and presentations as presented? >> I make a motion to accept governance and presentations. >> Second, >> Woody. >> Any discussion on any items presented? >> Seeing as there's no discussion, may I have a roll call, Dr.
043Simmons? Yes, >> Miss Tonnage. >> Yes, M. >> Miss Woody. >> Yes, >> Dr. Atkins. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Bond. Miss Bond. >> I think she she >> Okay. Mrs. Chavez. Yes, >> Mrs. Cortez. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Washington. >> Yes, >> Dr. Washington. >> Yes. >> Motion pass. >> Thank you. Uh, now comes the section of the meeting for public comment as mandated by this board's policies. Members of the public who wish to address us to board during public comment portion of this meeting may do so for four minutes for this meeting sess virtually. The next statement I'm going to say is those who have signed up. I'm going to call your name in the order that you signed up. When you are called, they will ask you to unmute your microphone. Provide your
044name and address for the record. When speaking, please address all comments to the board president. Public comment is not intended be a question and answer period. It is the time of the meeting during which the public may speak on any topic associated with the business of this board of education. All public comments must conform to basic standards of civility. Disruptive, threatening, defamatory and or profane comments as well as political commentary will not be allowed. If spoken during the meeting, the commenter will be stopped and may be removed from the meeting. The first person that I am going to call is Carol Smith. Carol Smith, you're going to be asked to unmute your microphone, provide your name and address for the meeting. And >> yes, hi, Carol. >> Hi. How are you? Uh, good evening, everybody.
045Uh, my name is Carol Smith. Uh my address is um 288 uh James Parker Boulevard. I live in Redbank, New Jersey. And I just want to first say congratulations to my former colleague Mike Palowski uh for teacher of the year. Welldeserved, fabulous teacher. Um, so, um, I know I only have four minutes and I know I'm not allowed to ask a question, but I was so happy to hear that the district is so financially sound, um, at this at this time. And I did want to find out well when can I expect my retro pay because I did work um last year September all the way through to the very beginning of April on the previous year's uh step and salary guide and and I was told I would be getting retro pay and then
046I did in April I just had an incredible opportunity to go two miles up the road from you guys and work in Rosel work and so I had to take it. It was just too good of an offer to to not take. Um, but I was told I would be getting my retro pay and then I had heard everybody who was still there got their retropay and then I did a little research and I was told former employees will not be getting retropay. So I'm addressing the board to find out like how can that even be? I know I'm not supposed to ask questions, but how can that even be? And how can you not pay someone for the work that they did, but I know I'm not supposed to ask questions. So, I guess
047just I don't know. The questions will be recorded and then at some point maybe they can be answered when it's not a board meeting. I don't know, but that's why I am at the board meeting. >> A question like that will possibly come from the superintendent or the HR department. Thank you, Miss Smith. You're very welcome. >> Okay, hold on. The next person that I'm going to call, Rachel Williams. Rachel and Curtis Williams, will you unmute yourselves? Please state your name and address for the record. >> Hello. I I hear you. I can't see I can't see you. Okay, there you are. Thank you. I'm gonna start the time clock. >> Rachel and Curtis Williams, 224 West First Avenue. >> Good evening. My name is Rachel Williams and I am the mother of Myia Cess,
048a student in the district. I want to begin by clearly saying I do not condone violence. On February 6, my daughter was assaulted. But what led to that moment cannot be ignored. For five years, my border has experienced bullying and targeting within this district. There have been threats. There have been repeated issues. There had been a pattern. On February 6, she was approached in a hallway during school hours by multiple students after threats had already been made. She reacted out of her fear and frustration for years of feeling unheard. The question I'm asking tonight is, how did it get this far? How does a child endure years of reported bullying without meaningful intervention? Where was hallway supervision? What preventative measures were taken before this escalated? Were reports investigated and addressed under the district bullying type
049bullying policies. When a child feels threatened and concerned at school, that is not just a discipline issue. It is a safety issue. Children who feel pro protected do not feel the need to defend themselves. This is not an account. This is about accountability on all levels. If there were warning signs over the years, they should have been addressed before a hallway confrontation occurred. So tonight, I respectfully asking this board to go on record. What specific actions will you take to ensure bullying patterns are addressed before they escalate into violence? What changes will be made to supervision and intervention and procedures? And at this time for those changes, I'm asking for private conversations. I'm asking for a public public commitment to prevention, transparency, and safe and student safety so that no child in this district reaches
050a breaking point before being protected. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Williams. um we'll have someone from the district get back to you um with those answers to your your questions and your statements. Hold on. The next commenter is Sierra Cosby. Hello I I see I can't see your your video, Miss Cosby. >> Oh, um I'd rather uh leave my camera off. >> Okay. >> Um if that's okay. Um Sierra Cosby here, Roselle resident. Um I rather not give my address. Um if that's okay. Uh but I' I've been a Roselle resident here and a Roselle district parent since 2018. um originally from New York, moved here in 2018. My son is currently a student at Grace Will Day Junior High School. Uh he started out in the Rosel public school district at the KSA
051under Dr. Fiser. Hello, Dr. Fischer. When Dr. Fischer was the principal there, um there there's a few a few things. Um firstly um as far as the education goes uh I definitely have seen a lot of improvements over the years which I'm very happy about. Um I guess my only concern really is the amount of technology that is being that the students um are using or um that they have the students using on a daily basis. Um, and I understand that of course it's 2026 and it's necessary. It's needed for them to know how to use it for them to have certain skills in order to survive in today's world. But um, I definitely feel like as as a parent and also I am an educator myself um, and I definitely feel like there's a
052cognitive decline. um in children across the board because so much technology is being used. There's and um I would just maybe like to see more uh handwritten work um more uh in every subject. Um, like my son's in the seventh grade and there's not a whole lot of opportunities where I get to actually see the type of work that he's doing in school or I actually um, you know, get to see handwritten work, um, worksheets for math, ELA, and things like that. Um, it's it happens very seldom. is very um far and few between. And um I basically I basically know how he's doing as far as writing and whatnot because I make him do it at home. So uh because I make him do it at home and um I go over things with
053him. That's how I know where he is. But um as far as the schoolwork goes and and I do have access to Canvas and whatnot, I do check it regularly. So I'm definitely seeing that they are getting assignments. You know, I talk to him about the stuff, ask him questions. I talk to his teachers. I go to um the parent teacher nights and whatnot. And um I have been shown things um when I do go to the school for parent teacher night. Um, but of course that doesn't happen every month. Um, I think the last one I was at, I think that was at the end of October if I'm not mistaken. So, um, if possible, I would, um, just like for uh Oh, Miss Cosby. Miss Cosby cut out. Can we find Miss Cosby?
054We're gonna pause her time. >> Excuse me. The chat is still not active. >> No, the chat is not active because we're in public portion. We're in public portion now. >> So, is there a way to get your name on the list without the chat? >> She did. She asked for that. Uh she asked uh that uh if anyone had comments they would kindly sign up so that they can be addressed. I'm calling the names of those people that signed up. One second please. I'm also was working with u Miss Cosby and her phone. >> Yes. I'm sorry. I'm back. I got off. >> Okay. I you just you had more time so I just want to make sure that you have that time. >> Yes. Um and I'm I'm sorry. I don't know where
055I left off, but um basically to make a long story short, um I would like for maybe more um uh writing and required meeting to be included in the curriculum if possible. Um and um also as far as the um anti-bullying and harassment goes um >> just to give um a little bit of a backstory um in January >> to the end of your time as Casby. >> Okay. How much time do I have? >> You have 10 10 sec 10 minutes. >> Okay. Well, then I won't go into that, but um I think that there just needs to be more consistency um in terms of how things are handled with the parents when there are physical altercations with students. If a parent requests a meeting with another parent of the student that's involved in
056a physical altercation with their child, that that should be that shouldn't be a problem. Um, I was denied a meeting when I requested a meeting when uh my son was uh kicked in the back in his English language arts class and I had to take him to the ER. He had contusions. He was on pain meds. He was on pain patches. He was out for like two to three days. Um I asked >> set you off this. Sorry. But um yeah, just um more consistency and just um more um fairness when it comes to h handling the parents. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much, Miss Cosby. >> Thank you. Um Miss Cosby, if if you stay online, can I need to find out if I can get your information so that we can follow
057up. Thank you. Okay, no problem. >> Just stay online. >> Okay. The next person that I'm going to call is Rosemary Longo. >> Hi, good evening everyone. Uh, Rosemary Longo, REA President. Um, I'm just going to follow up as you heard from one of the former employees who resigned from Roselle. Um, it seems that former employees did not receive retroactive salary. Um, I'm concerned. I know I've reached out via email to Dr. Fiser with concerns as to why these individuals are not receiving retro salary. Um, it has always been a practice that former employees received retro salary. It's never been part of a discussion for the last several negotiations that we've had. Um I've come to understand, correct me if I'm wrong, um retired employees have received retro salary. So I am not understanding what
058would the difference be between a retired individual or someone who resigns. They've been here. They've worked right alongside everybody else. they fulfilled their job responsibilities. They're being denied retro. It's basically telling them they're not valued as much as any other employee who worked during the negotiations process. And it almost feels as though it's punitive. So I'm asking the board to please ensure that these individuals receive retro salary. They deserve it. Any discussions in the future with regard to this issue should be done during the negotiations process. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next person is Demetri Deolius. If you'd like to before Miss Deolius comes on, if you'd like to get on the list for public comment, please email os pas and peter p and peter at roselle schools with an sdn.org. >> Hi,
059can you hear me? >> I can hear you now. Denitria, can you on camera? Hi. >> Okay. Good evening, Dr. Fischer, Rosel board commissioners, and fellow former peers that are just as frustrated as I am. Um, uh, my name is Demetri Deolius, and I worked in Roselle Grace Day School from September 22 till November. You cut out, Denitria. You're cutting out, Denra. We can't hear you. Can you pause for one second, Demetri? Cuz we can't hear you and I want to make sure you have your time. Can Demetri come off mute? Uhoh. Can we have someone assist her and take her off mute, please? >> Still can't hear her. >> She's off mute. She's off mute. I'm just >> Yeah, I still can't hear her at all. Demetri, can we come back cuz we can't
060hear you at all. I won't close public portion until we hear from you cuz we maybe want to reset your phone, reset, and come back. Thank you. The next person that I'm going to call Darren Williamson. Is Daniel Darren Williamson here? Can we find Dan Darren Williamson? He's no longer here. >> Okay. The next person that I'm going to call is Tanisha Long. >> Is there Tanisha Long on the line? >> Yes, I'm here. Good evening. >> Hi, Miss Long. >> My name is Tanisha D Long. I'm at 928 Weed Chief Road in Rosal. Um, I wanted to respond to the board's decision not to provide retroactive pay to employees who have since left the district. Um, many of us continued to show up and fulfill our responsibilities even when the board was unable to
061renew the contract in a timely manner. Um, we honored our commitment to this district and to the students we served. The retroactive pay in question is not a bonus or a courtesy. It is compensation that was earned through work already performed. It is important to note that many employees who left um in pursuit of higher did not do so in pursuit of higher salaries. Many of us left to some degree because we felt unappreciated, unsupported, and undervalued. Um, speaking personally, I have at times questioned whether leaving was the right decision and whether I might one day return. However, um, the decision to withhold pay that we rightfully earned sends a clear and disappointing message. It reinforces the very concerns that led many dedicated employees to leave Roselle in the first place. I respectfully urge the
062board to reconsider the decision and to do what is fair and just and that is to honor the work that was performed and provided and provide the retroactive pay, excuse me, that was earned. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. Um, two. >> I'm back. I'm back. I don't know. >> Okay. I was going to say, Demetria, are you back? >> Yes, I am. I'm sorry. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Okay. Um, again, good evening, Dr. Fisher, Rosel board commissioners, and fellow former peers that are just as >> frustrated. Can you turn on your camera, Demetria? >> Oh, >> sorry. >> Here I am. Okay. >> There you are. >> All right. Um, my name is Demetria Deolius. I'm I resided at 3808 uh Greenway Boulevard in Rosel 07203 and
063I worked at Rosel Grace Day from September 22 till November 24th. I was just informed that Retropa was not going to be allotted to me by the office of HR and they said that Dr. Fischer gave those orders because suddenly no former employees that worked with no contract wasn't going weren't going to be given their retro pay. I don't see how that's possible. I know our union would never have agreed to that those practices and in past practices, former employees that worked with no contract were given the retro play pay. I left Roselle because of the low pay, which Roselle is one of the lowest paying districts, but I did love my job. I loved working with the seventh and eighth graders. I just had no more choice. And I did move to another district.
064I when I gave my 60 days notice, not only when I gave you that 60-day notice, they were held I was held to the very last day, which is fine, but they wouldn't let me work any extracurricular activities from the moment I put in my resignation. I had to stop the 21st century. I had to take my name off of before the bell and after the bell and anything else that Roselle offered. Dr. Pots told me that Dr. Fiser told him anyone who has resigned was automatically told to stop working. I don't feel that that is okay or ju or just. I don't feel that this is fair or we're not asking for millions. We're just asking for what we were owed and what we worked for. Thank you very much and have a great
065evening and I hope this gets resolved soon. >> Thank you, Miss Deolians. The next name that I am going to call is and I hope I'm saying this correctly. Please correct me if I am incorrect. Tam Jane Cess. >> Hello. How are you? >> Hi. I'm sorry I can't see you, Miss Cess. >> So, I do wish to keep my camera off as well. >> Okay, I see. Okay, I I see your your active chat. Okay, thank you. >> Okay. Um so I just I had a few key points that I I just wanted to touch bases with. So when you did open up the meeting um your very first comment was that we entrust our our students our kids in your care. Um I just want I had a few concerns about the incident
066that that took place at the hos um the high school. So, my Asia Cessum, she is my niece. Um, and I know how long her mom has been trying to do do the right thing by her child. And I mean, realistically, her cries have really fell on deaf ears because it hasn't been just this year, last year, the year before. It's this is an ongoing thing. So, I wanted to touch bases with the the I'm not even sure who the gentleman was who gave the Hib report. I'm not even sure. Um, so you guys report that there's no incidences of bullying, bullying, bullying. But it it's beyond bullying when you have to have police reports, documented police reports, um, with with what's going on. I mean, I understand you guys said you you put in
067the corrective measures and you told students about the expectation. That's not enough with telling these young adults what you expect from them and you're obviously not getting it. Um, so I really I mean I know we're we're not supposed to ask any questions. I want to know what measures were put into place because it seems like you're just saying that to dangle something in front of our face so we can look the other way about the real problem at hand. Um because like I said it this is not the first year. This is not the second year and this has gone on for over four years. It is way too long. Like we need answers. We need actions. We We're trying to do everything that everyone is telling us to do to protect our child.
068>> And hey, it's it's be quiet. We're doing what we have to do to protect our child. Um and like I said, we just we realistically we need action. I I don't a meeting this this meeting I don't know how far it's gonna go but realistically four years is long enough. It is torture to send your child to school to be it's beyond bullying at this point. I mean because at this point Roselle district is protecting the bully the the the children that's bullying her is this is hey >> they're going to kick me out. Miss Sess continue. Miss you still have time to continue if you like to continue. Miss, >> I'm sorry. Am I Am I on? >> You're on now. I can hear you now. You still have some time left in
069your >> Okay. Yeah, because like I said, at this point, we've we've reached out to any and everybody that anybody has told us to reach out to. We're trying to remain civilized. We trying to remain hopeful that we can get our problems address. Like police reports is not enough. The parents have no control over their kids. What what are we supposed to do as parents? It's and and my thing is I understand it may feel like it's just a a a one incident or a one student that if you drop the ball now, how can you protect the rest of the students in the future? Like I said, it is torture for this girl to have to go to school and not just feel like she have to protect herself, that nobody is there to
070protect her, nobody can control these kids. What are we going to do as a concerned parent? I and I have a child myself and it's not just what if this happened to my son. I send him to school every day because he is supposed to be protected. I do entrust the I I do entrust the the school system to protect my child and it's not fear that that's just my cries are being swept under the rug. Like I I don't I I'm definitely lost. I mean I know you can't respond, you can't answer, but I don't feel like the incident at the high school has been taken care of. Honestly, I don't feel like it will be taken care of. But it can't stop here. Th this meeting is not enough because you're going to
071hear our cries. You see the emails. I mean, I'm pretty sure this girl went up there and tried to get meetings with everybody. I'm pretty sure those messages fell on somebody's desk that she's here crying out for her child and nothing has been done. And now her daughter has been beyond assaulted in the way there's no return. It's is there's no return. You Roselle school system, you really really dropped the ball on this because I I don't understand. You do hear reports, but how do we know as parents that those reports are accurate? Who's investigating? What what are the outcomes? Like I mean this meeting is supposed to only have good you know you you you giving us budget. >> Miss I'm sorry your four minutes are up. >> Can you please send your email
072address toppproschools.org. >> Yes ma'am. >> That's opport.org. so that we may follow up. >> No problem. >> Okay. The next name that I am going to call is Hassan Cessum. Is Hassan Cesum still on the line? >> Yes, I'm on the line. You can hear me? >> Yes, I can hear you. Yes, I am the grandmother of my Asia Cessums and I feel and I know y'all feel the same way that your effort of safety for my granddaughter had felt on deaf ears. How could you sleep at night? Cuz I can't. If this travel would happen to any of y'all daughter, grandson or any of y'all family member, how what would you do? How could you sleep at night? I don't understand how it supposed to be a a protocol and nothing was done. I
073seen the videos. Nothing was done to save her from this happening, from years of of trauma, from the same kid and other kids joining in. It's not funny. It's not cute. It's sad. It's sad that my granddaughter is traumatized because of this cuz the school system failed her to protect her. Her mother made police reports. She went to the school. Police wasn't called. Nobody was arrested. But when her mother came up, the school didn't even call her to let her know her daughter been assaulted, been traumatized in the worst way. The police was called after the mother got there, not when it was going on. The security guards didn't protect her enough at all. If anything, they held her when she was getting assaulted by a man of what I say, a boy. It's a
074man. I'm truly disappointed. And I had other family members went to that school and this never happened. I don't know if there's a new administration or what's going on, but it's dead wrong. It's dead wrong. And y'all all know it. And y'all should be ashamed of yel. Nobody reached out to try to help her at all. Nobody. I don't understand where the protocol came in that any kid, any parent, if I were to hear any situation like this, I would never send or reference any of my family members or friends to that school. Never ever cuz nothing's still not done. Nobody reached out to see how my granddaughter doing. Every day is a struggle for her. And it's a struggle for me, too. There's a lot of people that work in the school district, police
075station, their kids was involved, and everything was swept under the rug to protect who? The abusers. Nobody protected her and she's still suffering and so am I and her mother too. Y'all need to be ashame of yel. How could y'all sleep at night when this trauma happened? You can't sweep it under the rug no more. You can't pretend it ain't happened. You can't keep pretending and nothing done is wrong. It's dead wrong. They still getting threats. They don't even feel secure at their own home. It's wrong. Yes. I'm sorry, Miss Miss Cess. >> Yeah, I know you're sorry. I'm sorry. I have to stop you now. Your four minutes are up. >> Yeah, it's wrong. >> Okay. Thank you. >> The next name is Troy Hudson. Troy Hudson. Can I have the person who's assisting
076us with these names checked for Troy Hudson? >> It's no longer on the in the meeting. >> Okay. The next name is Erica Forenberg. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, I can. >> Please come on camera. Please come on camera. Thank you. not to turn on my video, but you can see the picture there. >> Can you see my picture there? >> Yes, I can. >> So, um I am I live at 418 Olden Road in Rosell, New Jersey. Um, I do not have any children in the school district, but I am um a I I am a commissioner along with Rachel Curtis and Rachel um Williams and their daughter Mia Sess sessions. Um so I have been an educator for 26 years and being so we are taught in local parents which means
077that the school acts in place of the parent. So when a child is in school, they should be safe beyond measure. Um to have watched that video, watching Malaysia beat the way that she was, watching adult men holding her as her hair was being pulled from the root is unfathomable. There is no way in my consciousness as an educator for all the years that I've taught, all the years that I've nurtured children, for me to even have an understanding how this can happen to a child in school. To have spoken to her parents and find out that this has been an ongoing bully spilling situation is even more unconscionable. I can't understand how any educator, any principal, any superintendent can sit this meeting with a straight face knowing that a child is suffering in such
078a way. As an educator, we need to have compassion and empathy more than anything else. There are restorative practices that could have taken place. There is conflict resolution. There is rethink education. There are all kinds of things that could be put in place to help this situation or have helped it years ago. I have several friends whose students whose children go to school in the school district of Roselle. I do not work here. I work in Newark public schools. However, in in Rosel public schools for it to be it's a much different school system than Newark. New York is people expect these kinds of things to happen, but I've never seen anything happen like that in my whole 26 years. Um, having spoken to other parents of teenagers that went to the high school, I
079had another uh child who's my godaughter who was also bullied all throughout high school. I just heard a parent speak about the middle school at Will a day being bullied. I I mean there this seems to be a paying an epidemic in Rosell public schools and because I pay $16,000 a year in taxes and my taxes are used towards the the school and the education. I would like to know what is the plan. I would like to see in writing a plan that Rosell Public Schools has put in place to stop the bullying, to reach out to parents in enough time to not allow situations like this to take place year after year after year after year until children are traumatized beyond measure where this child is afraid to walk out of a home. That
080is unbelievable. And it and it cannot be tolerated. It cannot I don't know what has to happen. I don't know if we have to march in the streets. I don't know what we have to do, but something has to be done. And so I know that this is and I'm not posing a question, so I don't expect an answer. This is a statement and this is a public outcry because I I like I said, I do not have any children in the school district. My children have never attended school in Rosel, but I am a taxpayer. And as being such, I want to know in writing. I will be writing the superintendent. I will be reaching out to each and every person in this district. I will be calling the mayor and every other person.
081I've already contacted the news because something has to happen in Rosel public schools where the children can go to school safely and learn. No one can learn when they're being beat upon. And no parent should ever have to endure their child's hair being pulled out by the roots. Children being beaten and fallen. The video was unbelievable. And I don't know if any of you were able to watch it or be privy to it, but if you are and if you've seen it, I know it had to do something to the inside of you because it did something to the inside of me. And so I am praying for the Rosel Public School. And I am and I am just asking you as parents, as human beings to do your job. Thank you. >> Thank you,
082Miss Forenberry. Just pulling up the Okay. Shante Sessions. Shante Sess. >> Hi. Hello. >> Hello. >> Can you hear me? Yes. Shante Sess. >> Um, I want to stay off camera. >> Um, I first want to address the statement that was made in pertaining to safety that Dr. Fisher made. With respect, with all due respect, that cannot be accurate if my niece was assaulted by multiple students in the hallways of a school. you cannot maintain safety if you if a child is physically attacked in that manner. So in fact you meant that it is a breach in safety and in and in that reason I'm asking what are you doing about the breach of security safety that happened at the high school? Um I'm not sure today but it was in February. I need to
083understand concrete action of what is going to be done to ensure that it doesn't happen again. I need active plans. There were children in the hallway who further humiliated my niece um recording. What is your policy against videos? Why don't you have apps like Doorman where the kids have to check in their phone? All of these things is not an act of m maintaining safety. It's all actions that um it's all action that is breaching the safety for all the kids. She hasn't felt safety safe in years. And I'm not condoning any type of violence, but I think that if it was any if it was retaliation on this end or it became bigger, then everyone would try to blame us or say that it's um retaliation between the two. But because we're trying to
084do everything right, I feel like it's being ignored. I feel like um Dr. Fisher named the list of different datas and um list of things that's happening all positive but what about the negative things that happened nothing is perfect so to start this meeting off with millions of dollars but no dormant act to protect my child to know that you can't upload Facebook Instagram uh all these things on social media fights and everything to know that you don't have no security guards that can actually do it where's the active police why don't you have two police officers. It's not much to pay them from the $13 million that you guys are receiving that you said that you so happily said and um all of these increases. Well, safety, you should pour into safety. Use that
085money to secure the building. Make sure that these kids are being checked. My daughter is in a middle school in another district. They check their phone. They lock their phone down. It's no phones being used in school for social media. That day after being assaulted so bad, my my niece went to a Chick-fil-A and the people in the line was saying, "That looks like the girl that was just beat up in the school." How humiliating is that? This is her senior year, supposed to be the happiest year of her life. She's supposed to be transitioning to college. She doesn't want to go to prom. Doesn't want to go to graduation. She's scared to leave her door. I think that you guys need to understand that this is serious. She is a senior in high school.
086The best year of your life. She it has been it has turned into a tragedy for her. This is the memory that she has for the whole year. The whole school year. This is how she's leaving your school district. Feeling unsafe, unprotect, not being protected, feeling like the school just want to sweep it under the rug. Everybody is really not taking any accountability. You really just want to make sure that you're not liable for anything. The main thing, the main focus is how can we hold everyone accountable and how can we issue a statement that I'm so sorry we dropped the ball. Your daughter was not protected in Rosel school. How about that sentence? You Dr. Fisher didn't say it. No one that she spoke to and none of those emails said, "I am so
087sorry that the safety in this school was breached." Oh, it's all of these excuses, all of these meetings being cancelled because of a a threat. Well, she was threatened for four years and the school didn't stuck down once, cancel a meeting, everything went as planned. So, I need for someone to print out, type up or whatever the action plan. What are we doing about the recordings in the school? What are we doing about the security that's not securing the kids? What are we doing that these kids cannot come into a classroom and assault another child? What are we doing that a boy can't enlist hire two girls that is a fireman's child to come fight someone that didn't even have a beef? didn't even have words. You guys let that boy run the school and
088it changed. My niece was tragically assaulted and everyone's looking for excuses and it's no accountability. >> So, I just want an action plan. >> A real action plan. >> Thank you, Miss Sess. >> Not we'll address it later or the school is fine. No kidding. Your time your time is completed. Thank you, Miss Sessions. Okay. The next Troy Hudson is back. >> Yes. Can you hear me? >> Yes, I can. >> Yes. Troy H. I would like to not give my address, but um that was my niece. >> Okay. >> And that was my niece. And um the problem is is that I think that listening to everyone took a lot of my words. But one of the things that I think need which should be I think the um Roselle board of education need
089to be um need to be an investigation on the board of education to see how they are handling this um situation but in other situation because of if that's been going on for 4 years the state should have been stepped in which I already did call the state to do an investigation on how things is handled. How could my niece be in headlock which look maybe be one of the security guards while she being beaten and her hair being torn out? How could this the guy that was also jumping her to her for the second or maybe third time? So an investigation needed to be done on the security on the board of education and any and all the teachers that's there and from that investigation there possibly be some charges on every every every
090single adult not including just the kids that jumped her but also the prehis adult to allow this assault to happen to go so long to have them jump my niece And just like the family said, she's in high school. This supposed to be her wondous years. How could she move on? And how could she get a even a better education after this? So that responsibility of what she going through falls daily directly, I'm excuse me, directly on the Rosel Board of Education. and the teachers and the board and the security guard of that school, especially the principal find out that they did nothing about this yet, nothing at all, no call, no how you doing and just sweep it under the rug like my family was saying. Yes, there should be an outrage not with
091just our family but Everybody else should be be outraged because it can happen to that child too. And for that man, for that young man to get back to my niece was a disgrace. And just like um one of my members, one of my family members said, "How could you get how could you not lose sleep from that? How could you not lose sleep? I don't care who they are connected to. Wrong is wrong." And it definitely definitely they need to come in and do an investigation. And I really believe that people should get in trouble if not locked them. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hudson. I have Amaya Tilman. >> Hi, I'm here. You can see my picture. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Hi, how are you? My name is Amaya Toman. I'm a
092raw resident. I'm here as a church family friend regarding a serious ongoing situation involving my Asia who has been subject to repeated harassment and bullying and the lack of meaningful response from those responsible for protecting her. And this is not a one-time incident like um previous other people have said in this uh meeting this has happened numerous times. Her parents have documented dates, incidents and the names of staff who were notified. They have emails, written complaints, police reports, and records showing that reports were made and not acted on. Um, this has been a problem at Abraham and Clark as well as the other schools in the district since before I could remember back when I was in high school from 2013 to 2017. And I just feel like nothing is being done. And her case
093is way more far advanced than I have seen. The fact that she's scared to go to school during her senior year, which is supposed to be the best time that she's having, is ridiculous. And what concerns me just as much as the bullying itself, is the institutional institutional failure to address it. When a child is harmed repeatedly and adults in positions of authority do nothing, the message sent to every student and that is that the school is not safe. And it's exactly how Ma feels which is why she's so guarded. And I feel like that is unacceptable. And I also think that you guys need more or better security guards. It's no way from that video. I'm pretty sure everybody has seen as much as they don't want to see it that those security guards
094couldn't control those kids and more people from jumping into that fight. Rawway security would literally never. And from that video, it clearly shows those kids have no respect or fear of their security guards when it pertains to authority. So, I'm requesting a formal written response from the district within 14 days outlining what steps will be taken. as well as I am requesting an independent review of how this complaint was handled and as well as the giving two things I requested I request those things to be given to her parents Rachel and Curtis Williams as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Tman. Miss Anna Lee Calamito, can we find Miss Annalie Calamito? I'm sorry, I'm having trouble with it. Can you hear? >> There you are. I see your thing. Yes, I can hear you.
095>> Okay. I'm basically just um you know touching on everything that everybody said already and I'm a friend of Rachel Chapman. That's Ma's mother. Um I noticed that the incident was referred to as like a situation. So I'm kind of just like um like I said touching on what everybody else said. It was a they failed her. Um I just noticed the lack of empathy across the platform of black people with authority and it's just like u one of the her aunts mentioned like nobody has even said I'm sorry that this is going on not any of you either and referring to the situation as quote unquote a situation or the issue and it's like no she was assaulted brutally her scalp was visible after they ripped her hair out and it's like nobody did
096anything. So, yeah, I just wanted to just touch on that. the the lack of really empathy is what is making it hard to get any results because I feel like y'all are more focused on trying to just brush it under the rug because this is something that and then he said that they um you know they just conveniently skipped over Abraham Clark when he was mentioning the schools that didn't have any issues or he mentioned that they were reporting things but they were deemed like you know not serious or whatever trying to make it seem like it's just a safe town and it's like It can be, but this incident did happen and it wasn't something that was fabricated. So, I don't feel like um you know, when trying to address a serious issue, when
097you start mentioning other things that are less serious, it kind it's like you're intending to take away the seriousness from this situation right here. And it's like a child was brutally assaulted with a bunch of adults around and at the very least they could have said, "Okay, we could have done something differently." And it's like things happen. We're all adults. life is happening to everybody, but the fact that nobody is even saying just the the minimum thing of like we could have done something differently and it's like Rachel is not trying to attack guys or make people lose their job or she's very empathetic even toward other children even toward the people who assaulted her children because clearly they're battling things in themselves to where they want to hurt somebody and harm somebody repeated repeatedly.
098So for her to just be such an empathetic pe being and not get any empathy back is really just disturbing honestly to watch everybody speak and not even just you know say I'm sorry that this is happening. We do want to do something differently. So I'm just on on board with them and I feel the same way. I do want to see something. So I like I mean you can put it in writing, you can put it on the billboard or whatever but I just rather see like actual results and just somebody take accountability. It's kind of scary because it makes it seem like why is there a hesitation for y'all to at least just take accountability? We did drop the ball. We did do something wrong. We could have done something better. We could
099have done something differently to avoid this tragic incident for this girl. And to mention things like, you know, it could have been whatever it could have been because of even if she was a problematic student or whatever, which she isn't. At the end of the day, she was hurt and she was harmed and she was brutally assaulted. She could have been killed. a head could have hit the wrong way on the floor. People kicking people and stomping people. Like any of those children in that hallway could have died and I just feel like it's not being taken seriously. I don't understand why. I think it's just disturbing. Um but yeah, I feel like get it together. I'm not a resident of Roselle anymore, but I was born and raised in Roselle. I went to the
100high school, too. I don't think they took anything serious. I graduated in 2009. I've honestly never seen any results. and they've been sweeping things under the rug and treating things like, you know, they're not important since I was in school. So, I just hope and pray that whoever watches this video to get back to the people with their concerns and comments actually addresses something and see, you know, get some type of justice from this like any type at the very least somebody in authority from the school to just take accountability. Y'all could have done a lot of things differently, a lot of things better. this could have been prevented. And to say that there were no reports or just conveniently skip over the the high school, it's like just it's like a joke. It's like
101um yeah, because even if nobody else in that in the high school ever reported any assault, which is unlikely. It's a high school kids fight. Rachel did multiple times. So, y'all do have a bunch of harassment uh reports from one person, which counts as multiple reports. So to not mention any is just like what's up? What why why is it in you guys you know protocol to not be able to empathize? Because before y'all are principles or people in authority are human beings too and it's like y'all lack the just common courtesy of empathizing with a person whose child was brutally harmed and she is traumatized and that's like you know her family is not it's a it's a what do you call it? Like everybody is affected by it, not just her. The people
102that's watching are afraid their children are not going to be protected. The people in her family is just disturbed, scared, because it's not only on the school grounds. It's the children from the school making their way to her home, finding out where she lives, assaulting her on other properties in public. And it's just like it's it's the town is not safe because it's the town where people don't take accountability when there could be things done differently to help anybody in any situation. This is just a situation at the high school with the kid. So, I'm pretty sure there's other situation with other people that, you know, need help as well that's not getting it. But yeah, I'm in here in the meeting to try to get some results and uh some justice for Amaya or
103at the very least somebody in the authority or y'all program to empathize with the mother and just say, "I apologize. I could have done something differently." And we're just we we didn't have it together. We didn't have the answers. we we didn't do what we were supposed to do. And it's not like y'all may not have a system to follow, but at least acknowledge that and say we didn't have a system in play. We apologize. Moving forward, we're going to orchestrate one. Maybe this situation can never happen to this debt before, so y'all didn't feel like y'all needed a more serious one. But it's like, okay, moving forward, what are y'all going to do to make it better? Like, that's all. >> Thank you, Miss Kellanita. Seeing as though we have no further um public
104comment, I'm closing the session at 8:48 p.m. All all of these comments have been noted. Thank you all. Now I'm going to return to the motions. May I have a motion and a second to accept and approve public comments, awards and recognitions, superintendent resolutions and superintendent resolutions 1.1 through 1.6. I make a motion. May have >> May have a second. >> Second. >> Any any discussion? >> No discussion. Just I just wanted to congratulate all of our teachers of the year and our service professionals of the year. Congratulations and thank you for everything that you guys do. >> Yes, same. I want to congratulate the teachers of the year and our service professionals of the year. >> I also want to say women's history month is coming and I want to congratulate all the women
105out there. Um you're doing a fine job. Keep up the good work. Thank you. >> Any further discussion? Seeing as there's no further discussion, Dr. Simmons, may I have a roll call, please? This is Tonnage. Is Tonnage going on? >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Atkins. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Miss Bond. She She dropped off the meeting. She dropped off. Mrs. Chavez. >> Yes. >> M Mrs. Cortez. >> Yes. >> Miss Santos. >> She's not in the meeting. >> Mrs. Washington. >> Yes. >> Miss Woody. >> Yes. >> Dr. Washington. >> Yeah. >> Motion pass. Thank you. May I have a motion? Moving on to personnel items. May I have a motion and a second to accept and approve personnel items 2.1 through 2.17? >> Make the motion. Mash >> second. Chavez. >> Any discussion?
106>> See, as there's no discussion, may I have Dr. May I have a roll call, please? >> I'll start the roll call. >> Thank you, >> Mrs. Washington. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Chavez. >> Yes, >> Dr. Atkins. >> Yes, >> Miss Miss Bond is not here. >> Mrs. Cortez, >> yes. Miss Tonnage. >> Yes. Abstaining from 2.3 and 2.4. >> Thank you, Miss Woody. >> Yes, >> Dr. Washington. >> Yes. Did the motion pass? >> Yes. I'm sorry. Motion passed. >> Thank you. May I have a motion and a a second to accept and approve business items 3.1 through 3.3 33 and 3.34 on the addendum. I make a motion. So set Chavez second. Cortez. Any discussion? Dis there's no discussion. May I have a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Mrs. Chavez, >> yes. >>
107Mrs. Cortez, >> yes. >> Dr. Atkins, >> abstaining. >> Miss Bond, she's still not here. She's not here. >> Miss Tonnage. >> Yes. Mrs. Washington. >> Yes. Miss Woody. >> Yes. >> Dr. Washington. >> Yes. >> Motion pass. >> Miss S. My apologies. Can I just abstain from 3 that 29 and 3 that 30, please? Yes, Miss Chavis. >> Yeah. >> Say that again. 330 29 and 30. >> Thank you. >> Are we done for that? Okay. May I have a motion and a second to accept and approve policies, regulation, and bylaws 4.1 for second reading? >> I make a motion to accept and approve policies, regulations, and bylaws. Becca and Cortez have a discussion. >> Sorry. >> Um it's it's a discussion. Well, it's not a discussion, but just a reminder that for our
108policy 52000-01, attendance of after school programs, uh, as I read on my committee report, students are are expected to stay on those programs until the end of the day of those programs and if they have three unexcused absences, they will be uh removed from the pro program. >> Okay. Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing if there's no further discussion, may I have a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Chavez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cortez. Yes. Thank you. >> Not going to figure your long ass. >> Dr. Atkins. >> Yes. >> Miss Tonnage. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Washington. >> Yes. >> Miss Woody. >> Yes. >> Dr. Washington? >> Yes. >> Motion passed. May I have a motion and a second to accept and approve curriculum and instruction items 5.1 through 5.24. >> I so move. >>
109I have a second child. Any discussion? Dr. You look like PG cousin. Any discussion? saying there's no miss um Dr. Yeah, I was going to ask them to delete John Doe. >> I think she did. Okay. Any further discussion? May I have a roll call, please? Dr. Atkins. Oh, I I was the one who who made the uh motion. >> Woody made the motion. >> Sorry. >> Little distracted there. Um and it was seconded by >> Chavez. Thank you. >> Miss Woody. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chavez. >> Yes. >> Dr. Atkins, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cortez, >> yes. >> Miss Tonnage, >> yes. >> Mrs. Washington, >> yes. >> Dr. Washington, >> yes. >> Motion pass. >> Um, we have two more items that we need to get through, but first I want to make
110a statement. I appreciate the comment that came in this evening. However, for legal reasons, because we do have to protect the privacy of the other students, there are restraints to what we can respond and as the chair, there are restraints to what I can respond to and state publicly as it pertains to any student matters. However, the student, the superintendent, and the principal are addressing this matter and working with the families, and they're working with the parents and the other students with a sincere and intentional eye towards student safety. And we are addressing these issues, as you can see, in our agenda here this evening. and we want to resolve these issues. For the parents on the phone, please reach out. Curtis and Rachel Williams, please reach out to Miss Harry and Dr. Fischer and
111they should be working with you to ensure one your daughter's safety and two for the rest of her educationally educational needs. I thank everyone who came here tonight and made a comment regarding the situation that occurred at Abraham Clark High School. And I want to thank you for your voice and we will be putting in the time to ensure that there is a plan and a path forward. Thank you. Prior to closing tonight, um, we have to do since this is virtual virtual virtual, we want to recognize there's a presentation and I'm hoping it's queued up. >> There is a presentation for the students uh, for the teachers of the year. >> Can I say something before that? >> Who's speaking? >> Um, Loretta Washington. >> Can you wait? Can you wait until the end,
112please? Okay, >> thank you. >> Who's queuing up the student the teachers of the year in this com in in this presentation? Please have it ready. If it's not ready, we're going to continue to move on and we're going to close the meeting. I I believe the uh >> Dr. Washington um the presentation is being presented online. You guys cannot see it but the public can see it online or otherwise it has to be done by um it has to be done by one of you guys from the meeting. >> I don't have I don't have the presentation. I I was never given a deck. >> If you can uh if I can share the screen, I can do it. >> You guys are controlling the meeting. >> Yes. >> So you guys should be
113able to sh I don't have any of those controls at my leisure. >> You have the abil. He has you have the ability. Um, Mario, right? in the hospital. >> It's slideshow. Clear. Congratulations to our teachers of the year. Yes. Thank you. Can we pause this for one second? Whoever's sharing the video, can you call the names of the teachers because just sharing the video is not helping us. >> Can someone else because I want to give them their just do. Can someone please start over and call the names of the teachers? Thank you. >> Sure. Educational service professionals of the year. Kio, go back to the beginning slide, please. Back. Use the back arrow. We have Maria Flores. Congratulations, Miss Flores. Next slide, please. Anna Clancy. Congratulations, Miss Clancy from Charles C. Poke. Kimberly
114Basket from Harrison Elementary School. Let's give her a big round of applause. Mr. Jesse Schaefer, Washington Elementary School. and Julie Rodriguez Sepita. Let's give her a big round of applause from LV Moore Middle School. Miss Dawn Allen Williams, counselor from Grace Will Day Junior High School. Give her a big round of applause. >> Miss Dana Abramage, uh ELA coach from the high school. Let's give her a big round of applause. And that's our 2025 2026 educational service professionals of the year. >> I'm I was trying to get to the screen. Thank you everyone. And once again, congratulations to all the honores this evening. >> Dr. Washington, we we want to acknowledge those the teachers of the year. We didn't have the opportunity to. >> Do you have the presentation up? >> Yes, it's already up.
115>> Let's go. >> Teachers of the year, Mr. Kevon Baris Ford. Let's give him a big round of applause. KSA teacher. We have Stacy McManis from uh Charles C. Pope School. Let's give Manis a big round of applause. Stephanie Marino, art teacher from Harrison Elementary School. Round of applause for her. >> We have Marissa Wickham from uh Washington Elementary School, first grade teacher. Miss Ronnie Shook, LV Mohor Middle School special ed teacher. Congratulations to her. >> And from Grace Wday, Michael Palski. Let's give him a big round of applause. ELA teacher from Grace Wday Junior High School. Congratulations to all of our 2025 2026 teachers of the year. And finally, we have Miss Taylor Carrie, dance teacher at HCHS. Let's give them all a big round of applause. >> Thank you. Thank you. We saved
116the best for last. Thank you all you wonderful teachers of the year 2025 2026. >> Thank you everyone and thank you for being patient for the presentation. Okay. So, now I'm going to entertain a motion. May I have a motion and a second to approve? I think I did this already. Did I do curriculum and instruction? Yes. Now, I'll take a motion and a second to adjurnn. So sad Chavez. >> Okay. Who Who did >> Washington second? >> Can you guys keep me off mute so we can get through the end of this please? Thank you. Is there uh any further discussions? >> See, there's no further discussion. All in favor? >> I >> thank you. Thank you everyone and we'll see you at next month's meeting. >> Have a good night. >> Recording stopped.